Easy DIY Ice Packs

It's handy to have ice packs around for various reasons. But the medical-grade ice packs can be VERY expensive! Have you ever considered making your own?

This tip I learned from Dr Sears reciently on The Doctor's. Save money on buying ice packs and take dish soap, pour it into a ziploc bag, select the size you want according to what you would use most, then freeze it. The soap doesn't solidify so it molds to the shape you need, it gets colder and stays colder longer and you can get your kids favorite color of soap so they are more likely to keep it on their injury.

DIY Ice Packs
1. Select Ziploc bag size of choice (double or triple bag to protect against leaks).
2. Get a big bottle of cheap dish soap.
3. Load up the Ziploc about 1/2 – 3/4 full. Close the bag a couple of times squishing out the air each time. Freeze.

**Note: If you read the comments from this post, it looks like adding rubbing alcohol to the soap is recommended!

Give it a try! This could even be a clever gift for a new mom, since we all know kids + any possible hard surface = bumps and bruises.

There have been lots of comments and questions on this one. While I am no homemade ice pack expert, I would think it would be best to:

Double or triple-bag your ziplock. Put the soap in one bag, then put another 1 or 2 bags around it. One reader suggested you could even zip it shut then super glue it shut so prevent leaks. Or you could use one baggie, freeze it entirely, then seal it in a foodsaver bag (here's what I use).

Do smaller bags rather than the big gallon ones.

Wrap them in a towel when you use it.

Replace them after a while. I'm sure eventually, just as regular ice packs due, they will wear out. No one wants soap everywhere, so just keep an eye on them! 🙂

Comments

Vacuum Sealer bags would work great! I’ve also hear that you can mix 3 parts water to 1 part rubbing alcohol and that works great too. Rememer to never put the ice pack directly on the injury. Wrap it in a washcloth or towel first.

Trackbacks

[…] seen-on-Pinterest things here. So, using the link from my original pin, I followed the instructions here. They are pretty simple, but note that I did not add the rubbing alcohol, since it didn’t say […]

Hi, I'm Jordan

AKA, the Fun Cheap or Free Queen. As a Family Finance and Frugal Living expert, my mission is to redefine frugal and teach you to live an ABUNDANT life...on any budget. It's not only possible, it's FUN. Want proof? Read my story and see... [read more]